The number of sports-related concussions across the United States has increased dramatically over the past 10 years, which could lead to permanent brain damage or death for athletes who suffer these trauma. This is why football in America has not been effeminate, the new precautions do nothing but make the game safer for those who play it. Football is an ever-evolving sport where 300-pound athletes can now run the 40-yard dash in under 4.5 seconds, which would have been nearly impossible for any athlete when the sport was just created (Schottey). The NFL has taken safety measures to preserve the lives of its players, including new penalties added to the game, teaching young adults about concussions in high school, the long-term effects concussions can leave on people, and The addition of new systems inside helmets can monitor the G-forces felt by a player after a hard hit. First, the NFL created a sanctions list to help keep players safe and on the field. Three common penalties in today's NFL are the face mask penalty, the Spearing penalty, and the horse collar penalty (Wikipedia). These three penalties were created to prevent defensive players from tackling attackers with their masks or the backs of their pads. All of these penalties result in a 15-yard bonus for the offense, plus an automatic first down (Wikipedia). Players who have suffered these penalties are often left with lower neck and upper back injuries. Some of these injuries are serious and can cost the player his career. Due to new penalties added in the NFL, defenders are more likely to pay more attention to how they are tackling the opponent and making sure they don't engage… middle of paper… Ril Hoge went into cardiac arrest and almost died from a concussion suffered while playing football. If technology could one day be so advanced as to prevent the occurrence of long-term brain disorders and functions, football would become one of the safest sports on the planet. will suffer a concussion this season." Pain and Central Nervous System Week. September 19, 2005: 41. eLibrary. Network. December 16, 2013. Dessart, Brian T. "The Daily Apple." Newsday. Newsday, October 23, 2013 . Web. December 17, 2013. “Penalties.” Wikimedia Foundation, November 6, 2013. Web. December 15, 2013. “NFL.” Shaw, Gina. “Football Concussion Controversy: Brain Damage, Testing, and More.” WebMD and Web. December 15. 2013.